Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)

I will communicate with the Deputies on this.

Officials in my Department met with Home Office officials on this issue. I remember that happening at the time of the previous Criminal Justice Bill but I am not in a position to say where consideration of it has got to since then, but the system involved cost implications, putting out a contract and having a statutory basis for it. The idea of outsourcing it was an issue which had to be dealt with in order to make it effective. That is what this is about.

I point out to Deputies Jim O'Keeffe and Howlin that I am not being cynical about this. While this system is not enthusiastically supported by some Members, Deputy Jim O'Keeffe is enthusiastic that this should be done. I accept the case he is making but I want to make it clear that there is no point in pretending to District Court judges or others that I have the answer to it, until I have an effective technology and a contractor in Ireland who can show, just as in regard to digital radio, that he or she can deliver the service. There is no point in my splashing out on a contract and then judges saying the system is ridiculous and does not work.

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